Toms River, NJ --- On May 19, the Fifth Annual Psychiatric Nursing Symposium, sponsored by the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, was held at the Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center, located on Route 9 in Toms River. The Symposium focused on community trends in mental health.
According to Anne Macaluso MSN, APRN-BC, Director of Education for Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health, the event was open to nursing personnel throughout the Saint Barnabas Health Care System. “Nurses from virtually every division and department throughout the System participated in this continuing education program,” she said, “because mental health issues affect patients across the continuum of care.” she says. Seventy-five nurses attended the program, which provided 5.2 continuing education contact hours, according to Macaluso.
Deanna Sperling, MAS, RN, CNA, BC, Vice President of Patient Care Services at Kimball Medical Center and the Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center welcomed participants and spoke on the history of psychiatric nursing.
Karen Piren, Chief Nursing Officer of the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services, presented New Jersey Issues and Trends in Mental Health, focusing on the changes in psychiatric nursing throughout the state.
Douglas Collier, Special Agent for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, presented the Keynote Address: Pharming in the Garden State. Special Agent Collier shared information, trends and statistics with participants regarding the diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical-controlled substances and prescription medications.
Megan Maroney, Phar.D. Resident and Anne Macaluso, MSN, APRN-BC, from the Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center, presented The Impact of a Symptom-Triggered Alcohol Withdrawl Protocol on Benzodiazepine Use and Length of Stay in an Adult Dual Diagnosis Population, which featured their research.
Maureen Mullin Underwood, LCSW, Director of Group Private Practice for the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, explored risk factors and suicide behaviors during Teen Suicide Prevention. She highlighted the risks related to contagion in the youth population in Monmouth County and the community approach to contagion management.
Carol Kivler, MS, CSP, Professional Speaker from Consumer in Recovery, presented Don’t Tell Anyone I’ve had ECT- It’s My Secret. Kivler shared her journey of recovery from four bouts of medication-resistant depression and her positive experience with ECT (shock therapy). Kivler’s goal is to raise awareness, instill hope, and combat stigma surrounding mental health diagnoses and treatments.
The Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center is a freestanding 100-bed acute care psychiatric facility that provides inpatient and intensive outpatient programs for adults and older adults diagnosed with psychiatric and dual disorders.
At the Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Center, the multidisciplinary staff includes experienced professionals in nearly every facet of behavioral health care. This allows the facility to provide truly customized and highly specialized treatment tracks, as well as programs for the dually diagnosed. For more information, call (800) 300-0628.
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Douglas Collier, Special Agent for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, speaks to the nurses during his presentation: Pharming in the Garden State. |
Date: June 4, 2010
CONTACT:
Carrie Cristello
Department of Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@sbhcs.com
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